By Ted Fischer
October 8, 2007

“Unsafe behavior leads to accidents,” said National Solid Waste Management Association General Council David Biderman at The Municipal Waste Management Association Fall Summit in Philadelphia. Biderman joined the MWMA membership to present practical safety tips for municipal solid waste departments.

Solid Waste collection is often viewed as one of the most dangerous jobs due to the number of yearly accidents in the field and the MWMA is concerned with this growing trend. According to studies, waste/recyclable collection workers have the fifth highest fatality rate in the US, which is ten times the national average and four times higher then construction related injuries.

“Solid waste vehicles are also involved in many accidents causing fatalities, injuries and property damage to third-parties,” said Biderman. “With 97 fatalities and 2,428 injuries to third parties in 2005, something needs to be done to educate on the importance of safety. The majority of accidents and injuries are caused by unsafe behavior, not unsafe conditions.” He pointed out that safety is equal to getting adults to change their unsafe behavior, which of course is not always the easiest task.

Practical safety tips include: making sure management is committed to safety training; employee participation is required; and that hazard assessment is key. Hazard abatement, medical management and measured performance are also necessary to have a quality program succeed. “Safety is more then a program. Safety needs to be part of your departments’ culture, part of their DNA,” Biderman said. Commissioners and managers need to play a leadership role with drivers, helpers and others. Biderman also suggested making sure commissioners and directors are providing regular route observations to make sure the corrections can be made before accidents occur.